XFORD, England — First lady Michelle Obama combined a message of hard work with hugs Wednesday as she drew on her family life to inspire a group of London schoolgirls who were visiting Oxford University.
In the ancient vaulted hall of Christ Church college, Oxford, also known as Hogwarts dining hall in the "Harry Potter" film franchise, Obama created some magic of her own for the rapt youngsters.
"She's amazing," one schoolgirl whispered excitedly on her way out, after Obama rounded off a speech and question-and-answer session with a hug for each of the 40 or so pupils visiting Oxford from London's Elizabeth Garrett Anderson school, the school Obama visited in 2009 on her first official visit to Britain.
The ethnically diverse school is in one of the most deprived areas of north London and has 59 languages spoken among its 900 female pupils.
The first lady urged the girls, who were on a day visit to the world-famous institution, to believe they could do anything if they were prepared to work hard enough.
"You should be pushing yourself to dream big, because if you can see yourself in Oxford, you can see yourself anywhere," she said.
Obama grew up in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood and went to Princeton University and Harvard Law School.
"I used to think there was some magic that happened," she told the schoolgirls. "I didn't know back then it was just plain old hard work.
"But the more success you have, the more chances you take. You don't let the failures and the stumbles defeat you."
In the ancient vaulted hall of Christ Church college, Oxford, also known as Hogwarts dining hall in the "Harry Potter" film franchise, Obama created some magic of her own for the rapt youngsters.
"She's amazing," one schoolgirl whispered excitedly on her way out, after Obama rounded off a speech and question-and-answer session with a hug for each of the 40 or so pupils visiting Oxford from London's Elizabeth Garrett Anderson school, the school Obama visited in 2009 on her first official visit to Britain.
The ethnically diverse school is in one of the most deprived areas of north London and has 59 languages spoken among its 900 female pupils.
The first lady urged the girls, who were on a day visit to the world-famous institution, to believe they could do anything if they were prepared to work hard enough.
"You should be pushing yourself to dream big, because if you can see yourself in Oxford, you can see yourself anywhere," she said.
Obama grew up in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood and went to Princeton University and Harvard Law School.
"I used to think there was some magic that happened," she told the schoolgirls. "I didn't know back then it was just plain old hard work.
"But the more success you have, the more chances you take. You don't let the failures and the stumbles defeat you."
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